Markets appear to be running out of reasons to stay optimistic this week. The White House reshuffle and concerns about protectionist US policy agenda is at the heart of that however yesterday’s soft retail sales report also seemed to put the brakes on the ‘Goldilocks’ data scenario.

Amid reports that Tesla's two top financial executives have suddenly quit, Tesla employees told CNBC that the company is manufacturing a high ratio of flawed parts and vehicles that need rework and repairs.

Jeff Bezos’ disdain for Wall Street is well known, so it’s surprising that he doesn’t appear to have set his sights on asset management. If Amazon could decimate bricks and mortar retailers, what might happen to the asset management industry, where 35% operating margins are the norm?

"Imagine a world where private ownership of self-driving automobiles is prohibited. If Uber, Lyft, and Zipcar get their way, this might be a reality we soon have to face...From free-market upstarts to incumbent cronies?"